Wilton Woman Files Lawsuit Against Cops, EMS

WILTON, CT — A Wilton woman has filed a lawsuit against four Wilton police officers, two emergency medical service workers, and the town of Wilton. The charges made in the suit include: excessive force, unlawful search, malicious prosecution, malicious abuse of process, larceny, assault, and intentional infliction of emotional distress

According to the civil suit, filed at the U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on April 10, the charges stem from actions that occurred in April 2015. The suit seeks more than $75,000.

The action has been brought by Neelu Pal, 47, a resident of Wilton. Pal alleges she witnessed adults "improperly observing and/or photographing" her four-year-old son and other children while the children were undressed and in a bathroom at the Goddard School, a daycare center in Wilton.

In the suit, Pal claims she "communicated her concerns and objections" to the school's owner.

At one point following that exchange, Pal alleges she was contacted by an employee of the Goddard School, who communicated to her "multiple complaints" about the owner and the school. On April 28, 2015, Pal says the employee called her and "stated threateningly" that Pal was required to come to the Goddard School to "witness" what the employee intended to do to the owner and/or the school.

In the suit, Pal says she called 911 on April 29 to report her allegations about abuse at Goddard School, the employee's alleged threatening statement, and suspicious activity near her home that she believed involved the Goddard employee.

According to police reports, officers went to Pal's residence after receiving several 911 calls from the home. When officers arrived, they determined that Pal, then 44, needed medical attention and EMS was called to the scene. Pal allegedly attempted to bite one emergency responder and kicked another while in the ambulance, police said.

Pal was charged in April 2015 with attempted assault on a police officer, assaulting an EMT, and misusing 911. She was later found guilty on a single charge of creating a public disturbance.

The lawsuit filed by Pal alleges that police officers "immediately pushed the door open, and physically crossed the threshold of [Pal's] residence, without a warrant of any kind, and forcibly pulled her out of her home, and arrested her."

Pal further alleges that police officers "searched her body, in the process sexually assaulting her by repeatedly and forcefully groping her breast, and then forcibly imprisoned her in the rear of a police cruiser." They then called for an ambulance to transport Pal to the emergency room. During the trip, Pal alleges that EMS workers from Wilton Volunteer Ambulance "removed portions of her clothing, and subjected her to physical assault and sexual assault."

During the four hours she was in the ER, Pal alleges that Wilton police officers entered her home "without a warrant, permission or purpose." The suit accuses the police officers of taking $404 in cash and jewelry valued at more than $4000 from her home.

When asked by The Patch, Wilton Police Chief John Lynch and First Selectman Lynne Vanderslice had no comment on the lawsuit.

The next scheduled hearing for the case is June 9.